When you see Themba Sonnyboy Sekowe - well known in the industry as Maphorisa - walking by, he might seem like an average Joe but what most do not know is that he is the man behind some of Africa’s biggest club bangers. His immense talent is to thank for Mafikizolo and Davido’s: Tchelete (2014), Mafikizolo and May D: Happiness (2014), Davido and DJ Maphorisa: The Sound (2015), RunTown and DJ Maphorisa: The Banger (2015) and his collaboration with Wizkid: Soweto Baby (2016).

The multi-talented performer and producer was born and bred in Soshanguve, Pretoria and started his career at an early age. The release of the chart topping single Y-Tjukutja in 2013 – which was undoubtedly the biggest song in South Africa that year - catapulted him smack into the heart of the entertainment industry. The following year he produced and also featured on Mafikizolo’s Khona. The song topped many music charts and won several awards including Song of the Year at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards in South Africa.

He has laid his golden touch on albums from the likes of Mafikizolo, Professor, Busiswa, DJ Zinhle, Trompies, Oskido, Black Coffee, Ifani and Cassper Nyovest, among others. His work has also crossed borders to include Nigeria’s Davido, Kanda Bongo Man (DRC), Gordon Chambers (USA), Lizha James (Mozambique) as well as Angola’s DJ Malvado and Yuri da Cunha.

On the show last year, Maphorisa produced international guest star Trey Songz alongside select African artistes: Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania) and Patoranking (Nigeria), Kiss Daniel (Nigeria) and Bahati (Kenya) as well as Jaguar (Kenya) and EL (Ghana). In 2016 he also produced Kwesta’s hit track Ngud’ featuring Cassper Nyovest. He is currently producing for one of Nigeria’s biggest selling artistes Wizkid, as well as C4Pedro (Angola) and Papa Penny (SA).

“When I produce an album, key elements for me include finding inspiration with the intention to change the game positively as well as staying relevant while continuing to touch lives,” said Maphorisa on his creative process. In 2016, he released an EP titled Dropping My Album On My Birthday 15 Nov 16.